161days since
CUPUM '09

City Models

3D city models are used worldwide for arange of applications by an array of users.  The breadth of applications that are available highlights the virtual city as a powerful tool for an organisation and can be used at strategic, tactical and operational levels of a project.  If used correctly, a virtual city model can provide a more co-operative approach to planning and modelling.
 
Hosting
A major decision that faces institutions who establish or commission a virtual city model is the issue of hosting the model and its data.  Issues for consideration include:
  • data collection and management;
  • legal rights to the data;
  • project cost and funding;
  • facilities, applications and end users.
Various stakeholders and participants (see applications) can have both financial and specialist contribution to a virtual city project.  A model that has been commissioned by a city council, for example, may require specialist city modellers to maintain and update the data, based on a license agreement between the stakeholders.